i was looking at my vin tag on my 66 mrk1 cortina today and i decoded it and it comes up kinda funny. the third and fourth vin numbers are 74 wich indicates a "Cortina 2-door DeLuxe, floor change" but my car has a coulm change auto and theres no hole in the tunnel were a floor change wouldve been so my question is has my vin tag been changed or is my tag a mistake?

The BA74 is probably correct for the Cortina you have, the BA73 Column change is refering to a standard transmission (clutch) with the column change and not the automatic. I wanted the car but didn't (don't) have the space or the money when it was for sale recently.

the top line of the VIN tag should be

2 3 3 S

lhd, 1500 High comp engine, automatic, and 3.9 axle
just like this tag

Gary

Last edited by garyeanderson on Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:22 am; edited 1 time in total

wow thanks for the help i just thought it was wierd that it specified floor not colum but then again i dont know to much about theses cars and you obviously do so thanks. oh and i just got it straightend out for the most part and actually put it on the road today

I am only making a guess, the rest of the VIN tag says what you have and is correct. I don't think we (in the U.S.) ever got the bench seat with the column shifter, at least not that I am aware of. That is unless someone special ordered it. I have bought 7 Cortinas in the last 30 years (5 inthe last 5) and all but 2 were GT's. I had a Estate in 1978 that I put a Twin Cam in but it got vandelized and I junked it as I didn't think I could get the glass for it. The other is a Lotus Cortina that needs some steel replacement sections (which is why I keep buying the junks that show up semi locally).
Good luck with the Cortina, it looks to be in real good shape for a car from New York,

Gary

Last edited by garyeanderson on Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:14 am; edited 1 time in total

Well I do not know why, The shell has a different tunnel to accommodate the larger automatic Borg Warner 35 transmission and probably should have its own designation. It doesn't so I would guess that Ford didn't consider the automatic to be a "change" but rather a "selector". The tag appears to be the correct tag, why would anyone mess with it? Cortina's don't have a lot of value per-say and the top line of the VIN tag is correct. I am guessing that it “may” have to do with the hand brake mechanism being under the dash but I really don't know.

I found the other pictures posted in the Mk III thread. Yes, it needs work, but still it is in remarkable condition for an east coast car. Wierd the the engine bay was painted a non-orginal color, but not the rest of the car.

I agree about the condition of this Cortina, most have serious problems that do not justify the work involved. This one (at least in the photos) has little rot for a car in N.Y. state. I had the parts to fix it, but like I said not the money, time or space. Well worth the effort though,

At least the vin tag has the code 3 for auto trans and the rest of the info is correct so I wouldnt be too concerned especially if the larger trans tunnel for the automatic looks original. The bench seat with automatic is rare but this is a late mk 1 and when they were a little more common. I had an early mk 2 which had the bench seat with auto trans.

I don't know about the numbers of auto's installed/produced. I havn't seen any in person but I didn't ever go looking for one. The VIN tags are reverse stamped on the Cortina, not a lot of people have the tooling to make a factory looking tag. I believe yours is on the level and the discrepency is due to a difference in the English language.

I checked a car I owned recently, a dec -64 built facelift automatic, it has the code 74 and that one is for 100% sure genuine so 74 should be the correct code for an autotrans 2 door Cortina._________________Not again...

Very rare in US, reportedly only around 2000 left. Very low mileage, with about 10 miles on rebuilt engine; only 27,504 original miles. This Ford Cortina will give you lots of attention!

Here are the particulars:

Completely rebuilt motor, with a Lotus fan and new motor mounts

Rebuilt transmission - 4-speed manual

Brand new, custom built aluminum radiator

All new Lotus Cortina suspension

Lotus sway bar

New 2" exhaust

New wiring harness, professionally installed

New Lotus rims, new tires (175/70R13)

New brake lines

Undercarriage undercoated

Car runs great, just needs to be retimed. The interior is in good shape, aside from minor upholstery seems coming apart, and no headliner. Needs body work and some rust repair on the fenders. Have front bumper, it just needs to be put back on. Otherwise this baby blue beauty is a real classic and worth having. Call Justin at 916-220-9028 with any questions.